affordable ways to book a deluxe resort

[disneydad1]

My wife and I both teach - have 3 kids (actually only 1 in "Disney years"...). We are limited to the more expensive times to visit WDW when school is out.

I'm aware that prices are better during non-peak times but that's not an option.

How can we attempt to book a deluxe resort (epcot area or poly) at the most affordable rate given our travel limitations?

We typically purchase our tix from mousesavers, book with a room only discount, and don't do the dining plan.

I guess I'm asking what the best discounts are that can be expected for deluxe resorts during heavier travel times AND if that is the best way to get a lower price on the room. Would I be better off booking a whole package through Disney? Would even consider dining if it presented a good value/savings.

appreciate your thoughts.

 

[wilkeliza]

Your best option if you must have deluxe and need to do it on a "budget" is to rent DVC points. You are almost never better booking a package direct if you buy your tickets through a 3rd party. Buying a package means they are going ot make up for their money somewhere. So if tickets are included you pay rack rate for the room, room discounts = full price for ticket, free dinning is full ticket and full room and must be park hopper tickets if you want them or not.

Depending on what you consider budget Deluxe through a DVC rental may or may not work for you. I would start poking around David's rental website or in the DVC section for what people charge per a point and how many points it would take for your stay.

 

[EdmondD]

Agreed with @wilkeliza. We rent points and typically pay about $14 per point. That has equated to, for example, about $240 per night at the Boardwalk and Beach Club. I believe that the Poly is more expensive (in that it requires more points).

 

[Dis703]

I know in years past I've seen some great deals late August for deluxes, but I heard this year they were not nearly as good. They did have free dining late August this year though. But other "peak" times its far harder to come by good discounts and some like Christmas won't really have any.

 

[buzznina]

Rent DVC points for a studio room, once you go above the studio level the points needed is no longer a deal. Next option is a TA exclusive deal. These were the 2 best options that we have found.

 

[adisneyaunt]

Affordable- deluxe in the same sentence lol
Actually I was able to secure deluxe during a bounceback offer that is ridiculously low rate, less than I paid for my mod room earlier this year. So that's a way to look for ur next trip when ur On site. Ck that book or call while ur there.

I think renting points Is the best deal.. and if ur lucky grabbing one of those "secured/locked in already" dates that happen to work for you, I forget the actual terminology. But there are often very good rates.

I don't find packages the best deal .. first you d need to break it all down separately to see if it's worth it... to me, too much work. I prefer booking room only... using any/every code/discount/AAA anything to get the room cheaper, then adding tix thru UT, and their link to get best deal in tix.
Having a separate vacation fund bank acct and putting $ in every week/paycheck or buying gift cards each shopping trip all adds up over time and allows for less of a sticker shock. And a great way to have kiddos use for the trip responsibly. Or use them for food etc.

 

[Marionnette]

My wife and I both teach - have 3 kids (actually only 1 in "Disney years"...). We are limited to the more expensive times to visit WDW when school is out.

I'm aware that prices are better during non-peak times but that's not an option.

How can we attempt to book a deluxe resort (epcot area or poly) at the most affordable rate given our travel limitations?

We typically purchase our tix from mousesavers, book with a room only discount, and don't do the dining plan.

I guess I'm asking what the best discounts are that can be expected for deluxe resorts during heavier travel times AND if that is the best way to get a lower price on the room. Would I be better off booking a whole package through Disney? Would even consider dining if it presented a good value/savings.

appreciate your thoughts.

Know of any professional meetings held at Disney World? You can get exceptional rates if you're attending a meeting at one of their convention hotels. We paid $219/night (before tax) at the GF last December at a time when rooms were going for $600+ rack rate. They usually have discounted tickets for guests attending meetings and their families.

 

[_auroraborealis_]

If you try to rent DVC points, make sure you know what you're getting. When you "rent points" you are actually renting a reservation at a DVC resort made for you by a DVC member.

• A member can book at the resort they own 11 months in advance, or 7 months in advance at any resort with availability. Availability at each window can vary, even at a resort they own. There is no guarantee to owners they can book where they own when they want.
  
  
• The member will control the reservation until you check in.
• Your booking is generally non-refundable and cannot be cancelled for refund due to the restrictions of a timeshare booking by the owner.
• You will often need to pay in full up front, versus the $200/first night's stay deposit on a booking with Disney.
• Any changes, special room requests or adding the dining plan have to be done through the owner. Dining plans must be paid in full at the time that they are added to the reservation because that's the way that DVC works.
• Tickets, FP+ and ADRs are your own responsibility.
• DVC units are not the same as staying in a hotel room. Aside from not getting daily housekeeping, you will not get 2 beds in a studio unless you're staying at OKW. What you get in a studio is a queen bed and a full sleeper sofa. Some studios will also have a Murphy bed that is smaller than a twin bed that will accommodate a 5th person.
• You will have all of the advantages that any Disney resort guest gets (like EMH, access to the resort's theme pool, ADRs at 180+10, FP+ at 60 days prior to arrival, MBs) but none of the benefits that DVC members have (such as member discounts or events or Top of the World Lounge).
• You will not qualify for any additional Disney discounts. You also are unlikely to get any kind of upgrade (and should not ask for one, as the owner who made the reservation for you may be charged for it).
• In general, as a renter do not expect to book Boardwalk Standard Studios or 2BR, BLT Standard Studios or 2BR units, Grand Floridian studios, or Animal Kingdom Value or Club Level units. You can ask, but have backup plans (and budget, in the case of the Standard/Value units).
• DVC "busy season" does not align to what people think of as high season at Disney, and starts in late September and runs through marathon. Epcot resorts and near-park can be hard for owners to book during Food & Wine.
• If there is any issue, Disney will not be a part of any fix, as your transaction is not with them.

 

[SarahC97]

There are also some travel agencies that offer specials because they buy out rooms in blocks, so can offer special rates. I just booked with one agency and saved $500 off the quote I got from Disney.

 

[monica9]

I agree with others.... rent DVC or go end of August since there are always deals. If kids are still young you can opt to go in September since most work they are doing is review from the year before.

 

[momtoprincesses]

I agree with SarahC. We used a TA who saved us $1000 over the Disney price for the Poly.

 

[KrazeeK120]

I agree with others.... rent DVC or go end of August since there are always deals. If kids are still young you can opt to go in September since most work they are doing is review from the year before.

I'm guessing 2 teachers are not going to be able to take time off in September.

 

[Minnesota!]

Teacher's Discount at Swan/Dolphin?

 

[Marionnette]

I'm guessing 2 teachers are not going to be able to take time off in September.

Or even late August. Teachers are back to work weeks before the kids have their first day. Late May thru July are the most likely dates that the OP would be able to travel in the summer.

 

[DisneyWishes14]

Go to the Resort Discount forums on the DIS. There are typically "watch" threads for every month. If you check the discussions for the months you are considering, you will typically find how others are saving money and getting the best deals for their trips.

If there is an agency running an exclusive during your travel timeframe, you can typically save more money than a WDW room only discount would offer. As PP mentioned, you can usually get discounted convention tickets through these deals as well.

You may also want to price out free dining if it comes out. With your family of 4 Disney adults and 1 child, free dining at a deluxe resort could offer quite a bit of savings and may be better than taking a room and ticket discount. You would need to do the math.

The Swan and Dolphin typically offers teacher discounts and it's a great resort. We prefer the Swan.

If you can stomach the very restrictive DVC rental terms and conditions, it can be a money saver.

 

[CookieandOatmeal]

I am a teacher so we have to travel by my school schedule. For us, we often travel during April vacation since the weather is decent and my husband doesn't have to deal with humidity. We have bought into DVC since we got every year but before that, I would often keep an eye out for discounts for that time. Keep an eye out on here to catch any chattering of upcoming discounts. I used to book RO reservations too and those are pretty easy to modify online as long as the room category is open. Once I hear that a certain discount is going to open up, I wake up early in the morning just to check if the discount has dropped yet and modify it online. If you belong to a wholesale club, go buy discounted giftcards and pay off your room balance that way along with any room charges you may incur.

 

[buzznina]

Affordable- deluxe in the same sentence lol
Actually I was able to secure deluxe during a bounceback offer that is ridiculously low rate, less than I paid for my mod room earlier this year. So that's a way to look for ur next trip when ur On site. Ck that book or call while ur there.

I think renting points Is the best deal.. and if ur lucky grabbing one of those "secured/locked in already" dates that happen to work for you, I forget the actual terminology. But there are often very good rates.

I don't find packages the best deal .. first you d need to break it all down separately to see if it's worth it... to me, too much work. I prefer booking room only... using any/every code/discount/AAA anything to get the room cheaper, then adding tix thru UT, and their link to get best deal in tix.
Having a separate vacation fund bank acct and putting $ in every week/paycheck or buying gift cards each shopping trip all adds up over time and allows for less of a sticker shock. And a great way to have kiddos use for the trip responsibly. Or use them for food etc.

Ahhhh! I forgot about BB offers, that would be another one

 

[cmadara]

I am a teacher as well and in addition to not being able to take time off, I never wanted to take my kid out of school for more than a day or two. So, we have traditionally gone in November around Veteran's Day. We have a long break for our state's teacher convention. When we started going 15 years ago, it was wonderfully un-crowded and considered "value season". Oner the years it became more and more crowded and no longer value season!!
So this year, we decided to go in August. I was able to book an exclusive TA deal for the GF that was amazing. Never expected it. We are going during the 2nd week and from what I am reading, the crowds shouldn't be too horrible.

 

[monica9]

I'm guessing 2 teachers are not going to be able to take time off in September.

Oh boy. Didn't read that part. Thought they didn't want their kids getting taken out.

 

[Arielfan98]

Look into a teacher's discount at Swan and Dolphin or consider renting DVC points. The moderates and values aren't bad at all either.